Inspiration Design
Creativity
Photography
Illustration %previous-home-next%
Inspiration inspiration to influence your creativity by emma wilson
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To ensure that the quality of the outcome clearly reflects the standard of the research and development that will be completed to reach this final stage. I wish for them to compliment one another, rather than one of them ending up being weaker than the other.
Being a design student involves alot of experimentation, learning, practicing and finding new skills. I wish to therefore continue this learning process by developing a new type of design that I haven't previously completed. This is so that I can continue to widen my skills as a designer.
To produce a design outcome that I haven't previously completed so that I can continue to challenge myself as a visual designer
I would like to expand on the contents of my portfolio, to make sure that it showcases a variety of final outcomes. Without knowing exactly what area of design I wish to go into when finishing University, I therefore wish to showcase a range of projects.
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How can I visually showcase a range of acquired design skills, will sticking to the intended theme? I need to find a clear balance between designing an outcome for my own portfolio and designing an outcome that appeals to my target audience
I wish to enhance my skills in creating successful layouts within the final outcome, as it
To discover how to successfully round up the skills that I have acquired during my design education
is one of the main aspects of design left that I need to work on and improve. When I finish university, I want to feel confident in all of the key areas of design.
To find a successful way to visually communicate a selection of inspiration in an interesting and appropriate way to my target audience. Plus to also incorporate screenprinting in the project, to improve on the skills that I am already gaining from the printing process.
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To create a fresh, interesting, engaging and unique outcome to present to my target audience. Plus as well as the project being created mainly for my target audience, I also hope that it helps me to establish my own design interests more. I will apply some of the appropriate research methods that I have used in previous projects, predominantly Strategies for Visual Research, to use successful and interesting ways to engage my target audience in my project and to help me to discover more about creatively inspiring people.
To discover in depth what exactly is inspiration, how people are inspired and how I can find a way to select appropriate inspiration for my chosen theme and audience
How am I going to select inspiration that actually does inspire my target audience and not just myself?
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“Inspiration comes from everywhere… from your grandma making odd comments, kids flying kites, nature… everywhere… but the most important thing would be to preserve these memories and apply them when needed.” -ibrand studio
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As Jacob Gube, Technical Editor of Design Instruct, states: "For the majority of us, creativity comes and goes-one day you can be producing revolutionary work, and the next, you may be staring at a blank canvas for hours." This is where inspiration becomes key. When creatives are stuck on an idea or a project that they are working on, the best thing to do is to stop and look at something different. Whether this involves taking a walk outside, looking through that collection of postcards that you have been waiting to come in handy or reading your diary from ten years ago, cringing at the pathetic things you were moaning about. It doesn't matter what you decide to do, the important thing is that you are looking at something different, instead of starring at that same blank canvas. Which inevitably will result in a whole chain of fresh thoughts and ideas. %previous-home-next%
My main target audience are students as they are among these creatives, who regularly search and need inspiration for their studies and personal projects. However this target audience may be narrowed down after selecting a theme for the inspiration. By finding a successful and interesting way to showcase a selection of themed inspiration, I can aid the target audience in this vital process of engaging with visual work, outside of their usual sources. Australian graphic designer Jacob Cass provides the perfect explanation: "Seeing what already exists out there allows you to build upon and improve your own work,"
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“The most common problem faced by anyone who is trying to create something whether it be a book, painting, sculpture or marketing plan, is losing that vital creative inspiration, and more importantly how to get that inspiration back.� -Noleen Wyatt-Jones
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How will I know that my collection of inspiring things will actually inspire anyone but myself?
Ideas 1. By narrowing down the target audience to a selective group 2. Through much testing and experimenting 3. By creating selection methods, such as rating systems, for the target audience to rate the selected work, they could submit their own creations or work from others that they find inspiring 4. By involving my target audience in the selection process 5. Perhaps a voting system 6. To focus on a theme and therefore hopefully the selection of work may inspire members of the target audience who are interested in this chosen theme
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Fo
cus
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possible themes for the collection of inspiration
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traditional colour
past
ugliness
freedom
future beauty
digital
exploration summer craft childhood 100 hearts
dreams
memories pattern love
try something new
handmade drawing
print friendship nature reusable
travel
imagination %previous-home-next%
wishes
things to make you smile
traditional colour
past
ugliness
freedom
future beauty
digital
exploration summer
craft
childhood 100 hearts
dreams
memories pattern love
try something new
handmade drawing
print friendship nature reusable
travel
imagination %previous-home-next%
things to make you smile
wishes
ugliness
How can I make 'ugly' work/ inspiration appealing and interesting? How can I transform the ‘ugly’ into being considered as being‘ beautiful?’ How can you transform your perception of something you once considered as being ugly?
100 hearts
To include 100 pieces of selected inspiration, both that I and my target audience has selected. To include different themes and categories within this overall title, such as; imagination, texture, print...
The four themes that I have circled are currently the ones that appeal to me the most, as I feel that they are more unique and interesting, than others such as digital. However before deciding on a final one, I wish to test these themes out will experimenting and developing initial ideas at the beginning of my project.
memories
We always enjoy being made to feel happy, so this theme could capture a collection of happy moments, thoughts, wishes, dreams, quotes... Looking at what makes others happy as this will undoubtedly be different from your own ideas and preconceptions.
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Different types of memories; happy, sad, unforgettable, childhood, dreams, forgotten. A collection of items (notes, drawings, photographs) from peoples pasts. How to visually present your memories in a contemporary way.
things to make you smile
"Another memory that makes me smile is standing on my Dad’ s feet to dance. He’ d sing me all old songs and whirl me round."
For example... Memories
"Memory is a way of holding onto the things you love, the things you are, the things you never want to lose." %previous-home-next%
Con
tex
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Surroundings
Documentaries
Nature
Museums
Travel
Pop-up shops
Galleries
Music
Books
Talking to peers
Magazines
Listening to peers
Your peers Blogs Websites
Existing places of inspiration
Memories Work experience Exhibitions
Postcards
Outings
Talks and events
Flea markets
Films
The street
Street art
Greetings cards
Zines
Advertising
Theatre
Journals
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So far I have started a collection of resources that will be useful for finding ideas for the development of my project. Plus from these I may also be able to find work that is appropriate to my chosen theme. I have already started saving creative work that I find is inspiring my own project ideas. These include items such as photographs, illustrations, quotes and prints. By beginning this research it is allowing me to get a great source of ideas flowing.
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Illustration Photography Design Quotes
Writing Videos
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“Looking at books in your favorite bookstore is a surefire way to getting creatively inspired. Simply stepping outside your work area for a few hours can present you with a much needed hiatus that enables your creative juices to refresh.� -Jacob Gube
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A small collection of my own inspiration for this project...
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“Inspiration is the life blood that courses through our bodies spurring us on to create and satisfy that need. In part, creativity is about fresh perspective and sometimes the only way to find that fresh perspective is to get away from the blank page and to recharge the batteries.� -Noleen Wyatt-Jones
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Looking at existing publications
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Looking at existing publications
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Looking at existing publications for layouts
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Looking at existing publications for layouts
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“There's no other way you can find your creativity flowing than the natures could provide.� -Crisologo Ramasasa
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sea
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How will I select the inspiration?
Ideas 1. Create a rating system for the target audience 2. Testing with the target audience 3. For members of the target audience to submit found inspiration (like ffffound) 4. For members of the target audience to put links to their favourite sites for me to then select work from (like delicious) 5. For the target audience to complete tasks (like Learning to Love you more) 6. A blog with a wide selection of creative work that people can heart the pieces that they find inspiring 7. Focus groups 8. Probe packs 9. Facebook 10. Flickr %previous-home-next%
Initial Research
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Initial survey research a selection of results
25% 75% Male%
Female%
Some of the ways that they feel creatively inspired 1. Drawing sketches of the scenery around me 2. Walk, run, climb, jump, look, hear, feel, touch 3. Drawing, photography, illlustration 4. Looking at graphic blogs, going to exhibitions, talking about ideas with people, just being out and about, listening to music... 5. Listen to one of my favourite CDs, look through a design book or magazine, have some tea and biscuits (all three at the same time) 6. Talking to people, looking through books and reading blogs %previous-home-next%
65percent students
Initial survey research a selection of results
50%
Please select your top 3 ways of finding creative inspiration
Surroundings
85%
35%
Websites
Books
20%
Magazines
45%
Peers
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25% Travel
15%
Films
Initial survey research a selection of results
18 When looking for creative inspiration, do you generally visit a specific field e.g illustration/ or graphic design or do you search for all types of inspiration? "I look through everything and just wait for inside response of what I see around! It can be whatever, and it depends on my mood. I can search for flowers, bright colors, or sometimes I want to sink in black."
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people
Always happy to find new resources
Initial survey research a selection of results Would you prefer to see a collection of inspiring work that just the creators of the source have picked, or that many members have submitted or chosen to share, or other? "Many members have submitted. If it is just collected by the creators, unintentionally the collection may be narrow, a specific style." On a website, for example, do you wish to see all different categories of creative inspiration or just one style? "Different, because I like it. I like when you can choose through a lot of stuff, even if it doesn't meet some criteria. Because it's really surprising sometimes where you can find new ideas and inspiration."
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Out
com
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es
Initial Ideas
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For example...
Wrap Magazine Wrap showcases design and illustration work and once you are done looking through the magazine, you can get wrapping, using all of the pages as wrapping paper.
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Screen printing
Magazine
Photography
Booklet
Binding
Publication (2nd use)
Printing
Postcards
Laser cutting Sewing Appropriate Paper Card
Possible processes, materials and formats for outcome
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Online + digital form Activity book Booklet/Fold out poster
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The primary research will involve numerous methods to test every development stage of the project. The research methods used will include qualitative methods such as; probe packs, rating systems and focus groups. This is because the target audience needs to play a sole part in the development of the project, so that it can be made sure that the outcome is created to their needs. Also the inclusion of professional design creatives, by finding out what inspires them, will be an interesting part of the research, as creative students always wish to know what the professionals are looking at. The use of email of email will be most appropriate for this stage. Extensive research into inspiration will also be part of the primary research, including developing on my initial survey. To develop on the survey, will next include the implementation of more visual research methods. %previous-home-next%
The secondary research that will be completed, will include the collection of relevant creative work for my chosen theme from such sources as blogs, books, the outdoors, magazines, journals, found photographs and from peoples personal collections. This will play a part in gathering the possible content for the outcome but the target audience will also play an important role in the collection and selecting of the inspirational content. Research into how to inspire and what inspires people will be completed using such sources as the website Design Instruct; How to Get Creatively Inspired. Books such as Publication Design Workbook by Timothy Samara and magCulture by Jeremy Leslie will aid the creation of a publication for the outcome, if this is what is decided upon.
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March April
21.03.11-23.03.11 To test and decide on the overall theme
21.03.11-01.04.11 To complete extensive research into the subject area
of creative inspiration, through secondary research methods. -How to creatively inspire people? How are people inspired?
28.03.11-11.04.11 To research into printed design outcomes and other
potential ways that I could possibly present my idea as a final outcome.
04.04.11-07.04.11 To decide on ways that I will include the target 11.04.11-15.04.11
audience in the selection of inspirational work
To further work on my initial ideas and to then test and evaluate these with the target audience
13.04.11-20.04.11 To involve the target audience in a more visual
research method as a way to start the collection of inspirational content (Doesn't neccesarily mean it will actually be used in the outcome)
11.04.11-29.04.11 To find out from a number of professional creatives
what inspires them and ask them to send in an image, quote photo or link.
18.04.11-22.04.11 Development of initial ideas,testing and create quick
prototypes
22.04.11-26.04.11 Second visual research method with the target audience
to add to the collection of inspirational content
29.04.11-30.04.11 To plan what categories may be included in the overall
theme after completing initial research methods
28.04.11-30.04.11 Evaluation of the stages so far and an overall update
on where the project now seems to be heading
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April May
29.04.11-02.05.11 Third visual research method/task with target audience
to gether more potential inspirational content
28.04.11-02.05.11 Develop ideas and prototypes further and test with
target audience
27.04.11-11.05.11 Start creating any of my own content
04.05.11-07.05.11 Fourth visual research method/task with target
audience to gether more potential inspiration content
07.05.11-12.05.11 Start editing content received so far, involve target
audience in the selection process
05.05.11-10.05.11 Improved prototypes and testing with audience 11.05.11-12.05.11 Final ideas
13.05.11-15.05.11 Testing and Evaluation of final ideas with the target
audience
16.05.11-26.05.11 Start creating final outcome- Layouts, design 26.05.11-31.05.11 Printing and Binding 31.05.11
Have the final outcome finished (room for mistakes)
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June
01.06.11-02.06.11 Final evaluation of outcome
01.06.11-06.05.11 Room for any final extra items to accompany final 06.05.11
outcome
Final hand in
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Bib lio gra phy %previous-home-next%
Websites and Blogs%
Aisle One FFFFound
Found Magazine
Beautiful Photography
From Paris to London
Behance Network
Grain Edit
Bloesem
Graphic Exchange
Booooooom
Hello You Creatives
Cargo Collective
Homemade Polaroid
Carson Mag
Inspiration for Creative People
Cellardoor magazine
Inspiration Lab
Cover Junkie
Kingdom of Style
Creative Review
Knockout Visuals
Design Dust
Lazy Oaf
Design*Sponge
Lianne Harrison
Designspiration
Learning to love you more
ffffound
Micah Lidberg
Flickr
My Animal Farm
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Websites and Blogs%
My Last Polaroid Nervures Paper Tastebuds Paper Tissue Photo Bucket Pierre Pang Poppytalk Share Some Candy Something-nothing The Wrap Paper Tigerprint Uppercase weheartit
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Books and Magazines%
36th publication design annual by Mimi Pack Book Art by Charlotte Rivers
Mute Magazine by P.Broekman, S.Worthington & D.Jaques
Cellardoor Magazine
The Big Book of Graphic Design by Roger Walton
Creative Review Magazine Designing magazine edited by J.Rothstein Dirty Fingernails by John Foster Eyemazing Magazine Fingerprint by Chen Design Associates For love and money by liz farrelly and O.Trigs Frankie Magazine Graffik Magazine Learning to Love You More by H.Fletcher & M.July
YCN book 0809 Contemporary Graphic Design by C. & P.Fiell The art of looking sideways by A.Fletcher Magazine covers by D.Crowley MagCulture by J.Leslie Oh Comely Magazine The art directors’ handbook of professional magazine design by H.Moser Wrap Magazine
Little White Lies Magazine
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Resources Suggested by Target Audience% 9gag
Live Journal
Abduzeedo
Lovely Package
artlebedev
Not Voodoo
But does it float
Protein talks at bfi
Creative Review magazine
Site Inspire
dafont
Stefan Sagmeister books
Debut Art
Street Sketchbook
Doodle Everyday
StumbleUpon
etoday
The Science Museum
Fasion Era
Illustration Mundo
Typography Served
Juxtapoz Magazine
V&A Lates
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How can you effectively inspire creative students by showcasing a selection of themed inspirational work? -Research Question
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